Launch your dental career with free online training. South Carolina dental assistants earn $43,780+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$43,780/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
3,100+
Population 65+
18.6
Training Cost
FREE
Palmetto State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 3,100+ dental practices and a population where 18.6 are over 65.
South Carolina dental assistants earn $43,780 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $47,000 - $54,000.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across South Carolina.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
South Carolina requires dental assistants to register with the South Carolina Board of Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. South Carolina offers Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA) credentials for additional clinical procedures through approved training.
South Carolina requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or SC state exam. Radiography certification is part of DA registration and must be renewed with continuing education.
Fastest-growing, MUSC dental school
State capital, USC presence
Upstate SC, growing market
Coastal tourism, retirement community
Affluent coastal, retirement destination
South Carolina offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 250+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 173 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29425
South Carolina's only dental school in historic Charleston.
View Careers →Employees: 500+
Facilities: 25+ locations
Location: Multiple SC locations
National DSO with strong South Carolina presence.
View Careers →Employees: 300+
Facilities: 15+ locations
Location: Multiple SC locations
Doctor-led DSO with growing South Carolina footprint.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: Charleston area
Academic health system with dental services throughout the Lowcountry.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: Upstate/Midlands
Major South Carolina health system with dental services.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 5 locations
Location: Grand Strand
Community health center serving Myrtle Beach area.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: 10 locations
Location: Pee Dee region
Community health center serving rural South Carolina.
View Careers →Employees: 4,600+
Facilities: 2,600+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices from Charleston to the Upstate.
View Careers →Amanda T.
Charleston • MUSC Dental
"Historic Charleston plus dental school equals amazing career. Love the Lowcountry lifestyle!"
2024-11
Marcus R.
Greenville • Prisma Health
"Upstate growth means excellent opportunities. Great health system with career paths!"
2024-10
Jennifer K.
Hilton Head • Private Practice
"Serving retirees who appreciate quality care. Beautiful island setting for career!"
2024-09
South Carolina dental assistants earn an average of $43,780 annually ($21.05/hour). Entry-level positions start at $35,500-$40,000, while experienced DAs earn $47,000-$54,000. Hilton Head pays highest at $43,000-$51,000 serving affluent retirees. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, South Carolina requires dental assistants to register with the Board of Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. EDDA credentials require additional approved training for expanded functions.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks at your own pace. South Carolina registration requires proof of training plus radiography certification. The complete process typically takes 2-3 months from enrollment to employment.
Excellent outlook with 6% projected growth through 2034. South Carolina's 5.3 million population, 3,100+ dental practices, and MUSC dental school create strong demand. Rapid population growth, particularly Charleston and Greenville, drives dental expansion.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for South Carolina registration fee, radiography certification exam, and any optional certifications when ready. Many SC employers reimburse certification costs.
Hilton Head/Beaufort leads with $43,000-$51,000 serving affluent retirees. Charleston offers $42,000-$49,000 near MUSC dental school. Greenville-Spartanburg provides $41,000-$48,000 in growing Upstate market. SC's low cost of living enhances purchasing power.
South Carolina offers: (1) MUSC dental school in historic Charleston, (2) Rapid population growth creating opportunities, (3) Diverse regions from mountains to coast, (4) Strong retirement communities needing dental services, (5) Very low cost of living maximizing wages.
Yes! South Carolina's coastal retirement destinations (Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Charleston suburbs) have significant populations over 65 requiring dental services. These areas offer premium wages serving patients who value quality care and have comprehensive coverage.
Join thousands of South Carolina residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredSouth Carolina's dental workforce serves approximately 5.3 million residents through an estimated 3,100+ dental practices. Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville-Spartanburg metros dominate employment, with coastal communities offering unique opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports South Carolina employed approximately 8,600 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $43,780. South Carolina's low cost of living provides competitive purchasing power despite wages below the national median.
The Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine in Charleston is the state's only dental school. The school trains approximately 65 dentists annually and creates academic employment opportunities in the Lowcountry.
South Carolina ranks among America's fastest-growing states, with Charleston and Greenville metros experiencing particularly rapid expansion. This population growth—including significant retiree migration—drives dental practice development and sustained employment demand.
Major health systems—MUSC Health in Charleston and Prisma Health in the Upstate/Midlands—operate dental services throughout their networks. These organizations provide structured employment with benefits and career advancement opportunities.
South Carolina's coastal retirement communities—Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Charleston suburbs—attract affluent retirees requiring dental services. These areas create premium dental practice opportunities serving patients with comprehensive coverage and high care expectations.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.